Good crowd for New WV films at SCM
Nighttime photograph of LaBelle Theater Marquee for 2009 WV Film Event, showing two great WV films, Ray & Judy Schmitt’s “Six Months”and Don Diego Ramirez’ “Trailer Trash - A Film Journal”
Thanks to Doug Imbrogno’s great interview with director Don Diego Ramirez of “Trailer Trash - A Film Journal,” about 40 people attended the Kanawha Valley premiere of the film which was shown with Ray Schmitt & Judy Schmitt’s stunning “Six Months.” The films were chosen as the two best WV-made films of 2007, and fit together perfectly since they were both autobiographical.
Both filmmakers live in WV’s Eastern panhandle, and both films involve medical crises that take Johns Hopkins Hospital to resolve. ( They were unable to attend the film showing for medical reasons. Ray had to have an eye operation at Johns Hopkins because of his Marfan Syndrome. Don, as shown in the film, had medical problems with his baby.)
The audience loved the Schmitt’s film about Ray’s unusual medical condition, Marfan Syndrome, especially his friend’s comments about Dick Cheney becoming a different person after his heart operation - which Schmitt was facing.
“Tailer Trash” may have been a bit too intense some some audience members, especially since the first part of the film shows the filmmaker’s loving grandmother on camera as she is dying from brain cancer that has spread all through her body. However, I am sure they realized by the end of the film that the filmmaker had nothing but love for her and the other members of his family shown with the exception of his sister who is charged with murdering their grandfather.
As I wrote in 2007, both films were extremely personal and intense, showing the maximum personal truth documentary films can show. It is unfortunate that thousands of more people in West Virginia will not be able to see these films that reveal how sophisticated film-making in the state has becoming recently.
Thanks to SCM board members Mrs. Shawver, her husband Bill, and SCM board prez Rhuel Craddock for helping put on the show. And thanks to Chuck Taylor, the technical support person who has done such a great job presenting WV films for 5 years.
And happy birthday to Mrs. Shawver who has spent more than 50 years living in her SC Weberwood home, taking a very active part in her community include this SCM WV film series.
Phil and Bill Shawver preparing to help out at the 2009 opening of The South Charleston Museum’s WV Film Series, enjoying a bite at Main Tin down the street
